Tricks to teaching a puppy to "STAY"!?

[mss]

Hi there! Frida is 14-weeks old and has caught on to the "sit" command very quickly. What I can't seem to get her to do is "stay"...but I feel like it's my fault. Like maybe I am not doing the right thing?! What's the secret? On a separate note, I also need guidance on helping control Frida on a leash. Because she has not yet completed her vaccines and we live in a country (ecuador) where there are lots of strays, she has not been out to parks or anything yet...all of her "leash walking" has been in the common garden area of our apartment building. When we go out there with her, she goes BERSERK. Not just pulling, but leaping, rolling, tangling around our legs, attacking our shoes, eating the leash. I feel like I am constantly pulling her back. I know I need to read up on this but if anyone has suggestions, please advise. In a few weeks we'll be out walking in the real world and I'd like her to be a little more controlled by then!!!

[Wally 'n' Leto]

Have you considered enrolling her in a puppy class where she would begin to learn how to walk on leash, etc? That would probably help a LOT.

For the stay, we were taught to sit the dog facing us, say 'stay' and stand right there in front without moving for about 3 seconds. If she doesn't move, treat and release, walk a little bit..... Once she is doing it reliably for a few seconds, require a few more seconds before treating. Lengthen the time slowly and always let her move around before the next try. Don't do more than 3 or 4 in a row, but do it several times a day. Once she can do it for 15 or 20 seconds, sit her and tell her to stay, and take one step backwards, then step right back in, treat and release. When she does that well, lengthen the time you are a step away. When that's going well, take 2 steps away, and so on...... always leave the leash on at first, and if she breaks the stay don't say anything, take her by the collar, and return her to THE SAME SPOT she left, and sit her again. Treating is always contingent on the butt not leaving the ground, and set it up so she can succeed.... start with a few seconds that you know she can do, and increase slowly. Once she figures out that she gets a treat when you say stay and she doesn't move, it's amazing how quickly she will progress.

For walking, we were taught 'stay with me' as a command. You don't want her heeling at this age, but not pulling or being a goofball would be nice, right? This technique can be refined to heeling later if you want. So, to first teach her to pay attention to where you are going, start in a really quiet area with no distractions, and just meander with enough slack in the leash she can only get about 1 foot away. Say 'let's go' (or walkies or some other cue). Take a few steps slowly but purposefully in one direction until she is walking with you, and then change direction. If she doesn't follow, the leash will tighten and pull her behind you and she will catch up. Say 'stay with me' **as she catches up** and give her a treat. It may take a few sessions for this to sink in. If she doesn't get the idea with that, you can carry a treat in your hand and give it to her when she follows you nicely for a while. Always say 'let's go' before starting to walk, so she knows that she is expected to walk with you, and she will learn 'stay with me' means she should be closer to you, which is handy when on a long lead or off leash. Again, start your expectations low and increase as she is able.

You can also look at the 'suitcase leash' sticky, which gives directions to arranging your leash around the dog's waist to safely discourage pulling.

[mss]

Thanks so much. I will try your suggestions. As for the puppy class, I have not done that because I have been advised to not have her go out and about until she is closer to 16 weeks -- done with her vaccines. Distemper and parvo are pretty rampant here.

[Wally 'n' Leto]

Good point, but once she's had her last shots and you get the go-ahead, and if you can find a good school that uses positive training methods -- lots of treats, toys and play, and no punishment or fear -- 16 weeks isn't too young to start! :) Have fun and good luck!